Guard rail



w. F. AID

Aug. 23, 1932.

GUARD RAIL Filed Oct. 26. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Ewe R607 1 b ww V a QN UI UM N QN W. F. AID

Aug. 23, 1932.

GUARD RAIL Filed Oct. 26, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 23, 1932 WILLIAM rn-ninfor CLEVELAND, 01110 P GUARD RAIL curves, and which, in such positions coop Li crate with the main or traflic rail to guide or deflect the wheel flanges and prevent derailments. 1n accordance withpresent practice,

the guard rail usually comprises a piece of Ordinary track rail that is spiked to the ties 1C or is secured to the traflic rail by nieans "of clamps or fillers and bolts, so that it is expensive to install. Also the many separate parts employed for securing the guard rail in place are apt to work loose and stretch, when subjected to the great weight and high speed of railway equipment of the present da and so permit a dangerous increase in the width of the fiangeway between the guard and traffic rails. Special guard rails formed 513 of integral steel castings are expensive-and cannot be readily repaired.

The present invention provides a unitary guard rail structure, preferably formed of rolled or wrought steel, and comprising a if? rail and tie plates and preferably also braces,

all welded together into a one-piece structure which can be shipped as a unit and readily installed with little labor and without the use of separate clamps and bolts. The invenco tion consists in the construct-ion hereinafter set forth, illustrated in the preferred forms in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a guard rail structure embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

v Figs. 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 3 -3 and respectively of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are cross sections illustrating modifications. V

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of another form.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a further modification.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the guard rail comprises a piece 10 of standard rolled rail provided with the usual de- 59 flected end portions and having its outer base the outer base flange of the main rail. Foot Application filed October 26, 1931. Serial no. 571,095;

flange cut aw'ayexcept at the deflected ends. A series of tie plates 11 preferably formed of rolled steel extendbeneat-h and are per- 'manently welded to the base ofthe rail 10,,

preferably by'means of fillet" welds 12 extending along'the edges of the plates. I

Rail braces 13 are secured to theinner ends of some, or, if desired, to all of the plates. In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4; inclusive,th'e rail braces are formed integral [with the plates, each being forged from an extension that is folded over theinner endfof the plate and shaped to providefan upwardly inclined bracing strut '14 of inverted U-shape inassstio'n and having laterally extending bas'e flanges 15 at the lower'ed'ges of its side walls.

The strut and base flanges of each brace fit snugly against the underside ofithe head'a-nd the upperisideof the base of the rail 10 mild against the rail web, and arewelded to the rail preferably by fillet welds 16 extending along their edges.

- The portlons of the base flanges 15 that ex-- tend beyond the rail base, contact with the inner ends of the tie plates 11, and these contacting portions are provided with holes 17 for receiving spikes .18, a s"indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The tie plates of the unitary guardrail structure are adaptedto extend beneath the main or traflic rail 1 9 and are provided with holes 20 for receiving spikes 21-that hold the traffic rail in position.

The plates can also be provided with ribs or shoulders 22, as shown in Fig. 3, for engaging guards 23 formed .of pieces of rolled] steel plate having inclined end portions 24 are welded to the deflected endportions of the rail 10 by fillet welds 25. j l The form shown in Fig. 5 i" sir nil'arjto that previously described except that thin wedge shaped pieces or shims 26 extend between'the tieplates 11 andthe" base of the guard-rail 'lOand are permanently welded to-these parts, i the wedges or shims are adapted to'exte'nd beneath the main or traffic railto cant, so that the, treads of the car wheels will have a'bearing entirely acrosstlhe head of the rail; I In theyform shown in Fig. 6, the tieplates are provided with raised portions 27, and the The form shown in Figs. 8 and9 is pro-.

vided with a guard rail 33 of special rolled shape and comprising an inclined portion 84:

.having a base flange 35 and a vertical flange 36'depending from its upper edge. The tie' plates and braces are like those shown inlTigs. 1. to 41;- inclusive except that the shape of the braces .13. are modifiedto fit againstthe inclined portions 34 of the guard rail. This inclined portion is cut away between the braces to provide openings 37 that permit the escape or ready removal of snow and ice from the flangeway and space between the 'lg uardand running rails. v

In the structure. shown in' Fig. 10, the guardrail '38is formed of a piece of standard ,rail, its} base is straight or substantially .s o, the outer base flange being. cut away throughout its length, andtheflares at the ends .of the rail being formed by planing theballor head ofthe rail. In this form, combined plates and braces such as previously described alternate with plain tie plates 39, and the plates are all of the same size and areall parallel orsubstantially so. If. de-

sired, all of theplates could be combined with braces or all plain plates could be employed. In this form the plates are provided with 0 ribs or shoulders 22, for engaging the outer base flange of the running rail.

1 The present invention provides a unitary or integral guard rail structure, which is inexpensive to manufacture, repair and install, and which can be shipped as aunit free from looseparts. The structure also obviates the necessity of employing. clamps, bolts and the like for maintaining the guard and main rails in proper relative position. Changes may be made in the details set forth without departure claims.

I claim as my invention 1. A unitary guard rail, structure comprisfrom the scope of the appended 3. A guard rail structure, comprising a rail, and a series of tie plates and rail braces secured together and permanently welded to the rail with the tie plates projecting outwardly therefrom and Having holes in their projecting portions for the spikes that en gage the inner and outer base flanges of the main rail, substantially as described.

'4. A. guard rail structure, comprising a rail, tie plates extending beneath and welded to the rail base, and braces integral with the inner endsof tie platesand each having base flanges and an inclined strut engaging and welded to the head, base andweb of the rail, substantially as described. v

5. A guard rail-structure comprising a rail, a series of tie-plates andrail braces secured together and weldedto the rail with the tie plates projecting therefrom to extend beneath the main rail, and foot guards welded to the ends of the guard rail, substantially as described. V 1

6. ,A guard rail structure comprising a rail, a series of tie plates and rail braces secured together with the braces welded to the rail, and wedge-shaped shims extending between and weldedto the tie plates and the rail, the tie plates and shims being arranged to extend beneath the main rail, substantially as described.

7. A guard rail structure comprising a guard rail, and a series of tie plates,rail braces, and wedge shaped shims,the shims extending between the tie plates and guard rail andhaving portions adapted to extend beneath a main rail.

WILLIAM F. AID.

ing'aguard rail and a series .of tie plates and s rail braces welded to the guard rail with the tieplates projecting therefrom and adapted tole'xtend beneath the main rail, and having means for determining the spacing of the ma n and guardrails substantially as described.

" "2. A unitary guard rail structure comprisinga guard rail and a series of tie plates and rail braces, the tie plates being welded at their edges to the lower face of the guard 

